According to a report by The Cable on Saturday, April 4, 2026, a coalition of press freedom and civil society organisations has called on Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to apologise following a controversial statement in which he threatened Seun Okinbaloye, a presenter with Channels Television.
The incident occurred during a media interaction in Abuja on Friday, when Wike reacted angrily to comments made by Okinbaloye regarding the state of Nigeria’s democracy ahead of the 2027 elections. On his programme, Okinbaloye had expressed concern that the elections were increasingly being shaped by dominance from a single political party, citing the ongoing crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC). He warned that Nigeria could face serious democratic setbacks if opposition parties were unable to contest effectively.
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Responding to the remarks, Wike reportedly said, “I was surprised yesterday, thoroughly surprised. If there was any way to break the screen, I would have shot him.”
In a statement issued jointly by 14 organisations, the network condemned Wike’s comment, calling it unacceptable for a public official to use violent language against a journalist. The groups demanded that Wike retract his statement, issue a public apology to Okinbaloye and the wider media community, and reaffirm his commitment to non-violence and press freedom as a government official sworn to uphold the constitution.
While Wike later clarified that he did not intend to act on his words, the coalition stressed that even hypothetical threats against journalists create a climate of fear and intimidation. “Such remarks, whether made in jest or frustration, can be perceived as coercive by both the journalist and the audience,” the statement said.
The organisations warned that threats of this nature undermine the core principles of a free and independent press. Journalists, they noted, play a critical role in informing citizens and holding those in power accountable, and any intimidation weakens public trust in democratic institutions.
The statement highlighted Nigeria’s current challenges for media practitioners, noting that the country ranks 122 out of 180 on the global press freedom index. Journalists frequently face harassment, arbitrary arrests, and attacks, especially during election periods.